29 MAY, 2022 - DP WORLD TOUR: Victor Perez put on an incredible display of clutch putting to defeat Ryan Fox in a play-off and win his second DP World Tour title at the 2022 Dutch Open.
The Frenchman entered the day in a share of the lead but was three shots back stood on the 17th tee as the in-form Fox put on an impressive display.
A double-bogey on the last from the Kiwi saw him sign for a 68 and leave the door ajar, however, and Perez birdied the penultimate hole to head down the par-five 18th back in a share.
The 29-year-old had six feet to take the title on the final green but missed his putt to stay at 13 under after a 69 and we headed to extra holes for the third time in five events.
A 20-footer kept him in it as both men made a birdie on the first trip back up the 18th and after a pair of pars at the second attempt, he made another lengthy putt for a gain. But he was not done there, holing from over 40 feet at the 17th on the fourth play-off hole to seal victory with a birdie.
Perez also earns himself a spot at The 150th Open Championship this summer alongside Fox and Pole Adrian Meronk, with the top three players in the top ten not exempt heading to St Andrews. PEREZ WAS UNDERSTANDABLY DELIGHTED. "There was a fair amount of fortune, I've got to be honest with myself, holing out those long putts in the play-off", SAID THE FRENCHMAN.
"It's kind of hard to put into words because it was such a long day and Ryan was off and flying for a while.
"We didn't even really think we had a chance. Coming down 16 I knew I needed to birdie the last three because to eagle the 18th is almost impossible with the pin and the wind.
"James told me just don't look at the board and then I holed the one on 17 to be able to come through and the play-off was just a bit of magic.
"I just tried to focus on me all day, that's all I can do, is try to keep a champion mindset and hit good shot after good shot.
"The chips were going to fall where they were going to fall, it's almost impossible to predict what is going to happen in golf: guys come out of nowhere and win tournaments and guys take huge leads.
"You just have to focus on you and not look at the board and I was just fortunate to fall on the right side today.
"I couldn't be happier for my girlfriend to be here and we can share this together."
The Frenchman entered the day in a share of the lead but was three shots back stood on the 17th tee as the in-form Fox put on an impressive display.
A double-bogey on the last from the Kiwi saw him sign for a 68 and leave the door ajar, however, and Perez birdied the penultimate hole to head down the par-five 18th back in a share.
The 29-year-old had six feet to take the title on the final green but missed his putt to stay at 13 under after a 69 and we headed to extra holes for the third time in five events.
A 20-footer kept him in it as both men made a birdie on the first trip back up the 18th and after a pair of pars at the second attempt, he made another lengthy putt for a gain. But he was not done there, holing from over 40 feet at the 17th on the fourth play-off hole to seal victory with a birdie.
Perez also earns himself a spot at The 150th Open Championship this summer alongside Fox and Pole Adrian Meronk, with the top three players in the top ten not exempt heading to St Andrews. PEREZ WAS UNDERSTANDABLY DELIGHTED. "There was a fair amount of fortune, I've got to be honest with myself, holing out those long putts in the play-off", SAID THE FRENCHMAN.
"It's kind of hard to put into words because it was such a long day and Ryan was off and flying for a while.
"We didn't even really think we had a chance. Coming down 16 I knew I needed to birdie the last three because to eagle the 18th is almost impossible with the pin and the wind.
"James told me just don't look at the board and then I holed the one on 17 to be able to come through and the play-off was just a bit of magic.
"I just tried to focus on me all day, that's all I can do, is try to keep a champion mindset and hit good shot after good shot.
"The chips were going to fall where they were going to fall, it's almost impossible to predict what is going to happen in golf: guys come out of nowhere and win tournaments and guys take huge leads.
"You just have to focus on you and not look at the board and I was just fortunate to fall on the right side today.
"I couldn't be happier for my girlfriend to be here and we can share this together."
Meronk finished a shot out of the play-off after a 68, a score matched by German Marcel Schneider who finished at 11 under.
Swede Sebastian Soderberg and England's Matt Wallace were at ten under, two shots ahead of another Swede in Alexander Björk and Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia.
